Partitions

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a partition system comprising a plurality of panels, each panel provided with a plurality of clips each of which has one end secured to the panel and another end resiliently engageable and disengageable with a supporting member, the supporting member defining slots for receiving said clips.

United States Patent [191 Pilgrim et a1.

[ Sept. 23, 1975 1 PARTITIONS [75] Inventors: Thomas Albert Pilgrim,

Nottingham; David Ernest Cuin, Radcliffe-on-Trent, both of England;Colin John Wightman, Burlington; John Leslie Donovan, Hornby, both ofCanada [73] Assignee: BPB Industries Limited, London,

England [22] Filed: Apr. 22, 1974 [21] Appl. No.: 462,703

[52] U.S. Cl. 52/489; 52/241 [51] Int. Cl. E04B 2/58 [58] Field ofSearch 52/241, 483, 489, 474, 52/512, 479, 480

[56} References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,810,597 6/1931 Corwin52/489 2,081,368 5/1937 Pretot 52/489 3,008,550 11/1961 Miles et a1. 4.4 52/241 X 3,550,338 12/1970 Satkin et alw, 52/474 X 3,705,471 12/1972Allen 52/483 X 3,722,163 3/1973 Setkin et a1 52/241 X PrimaryExaminerPrice C. Faw, Jr. Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Sarnuel Kurlandsky,Esqx, Kenneth E. Roberts, Esq; Stanton T. Hadley, Esq,

[57] ABSTRACT 20 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures US Patent Sept. 23,1975 Sheet1 of 4 3,906,695

US Patent Sept. 23,1975 Sheet 2 of4 3,906,695

US Patent Sept. 23,1975 Sheet 3 of4 3,906,695

US Patent Sept. 23,1975 Sheet4 of4 3,906,695

PARTITIONS The present invention relates to a partition system, inparticular to a demountable, battenless partition system.

Many known demountable partition systems have a plurality of adjacentpanels whose joints are covered with removable strips or battens. Suchstrips or battens may actually secure the panels in place, or merelyprovide a means for hiding the panel attachment system, which latter forexample might be self-tapping screws. The design of partition systems,of aesthetically acceptable appearance, without such battens which arealso readily demountable, presents certain difficulties, and it is theobject of the present invention to provide such a battenless partitionsystemin which individual panels are readily demountable.

According to the present invention there is provided a partition systemhaving a plurality of panels, each panel being provided with a pluralityof clips for attaching the panels to a framework of supporting members,the clips being received in corresponding slots in the supportingmembers whereby individual panels are readily demountable therefrom.

Conveniently the panels of a partition system can be provided with aclip which is resilient and is generally hook-shaped, the clip having alead in portion for facilitatin g engagement with the respectivesupporting member, a clipping portion for releasably securing the clipto the supporting member and a tail portion for attaching the clip to apanel and means for locating the clip thereto in a predeterminedposition.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided aresilient, generally hook-shaped clip having a clipping portion forreleasably securing the clip to a supporting member, a lead in portionfor facilitating engagement with the supporting member and tailportions, each tail end of the clip being formed with a pointed barb anda respective notch being formed in the edges of the clip adjacent toeach tail end thereof.

Advantageously clips are manufactured from thin metal strip and areattached to the panel before the panels are mounted on the supportmembers. It is to be understood however that other materials such asplastics may be used for the clips.

Conveniently the supporting stud members are of I, H, J, Z or C sectionand may be formed from aluminum, steel, rigid plastics or likematerials. Furthermore, the stud members can be of hollow rectangularcross section. However, any configuration which provides a flange forslotting in the plane of the panels, or which may be adapted byadditional components to provide such a flange for slotting may beadopted. Alternatively, extruded sections can be used such as tubingwith slots formed therealong for receiving the clips. Similarly thepanels utilised may be of any conventional building panel material orcomposite thereof.

The invention will be described further, by way of example, withreference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. I is an exploded perspective view of a portion of the partitionsystem, according to a first embodiment of the present invention,

FIG. 2 is one form of assembly for the partition system of FIG. I,

FIG. 3A is a section through a clip for use with the system of FIG. 6according to a second embodiment of the present invention,

FIG. 3B is a perspective view of the clip of FIG. 6,

FIGS. 4a, 4b and 4c are sequential perspective views showing themounting process of the clip of FIG. 3 to the panels,

FIG. 5 is a section illustrating the mounting of the panels to thesupporting members, using the clip of FIG. 3, and

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a portion of the partition systemaccording to the second embodiment of the invention.

Referring to FIG. I an I section stud member has a pair of punchedrectangular slots 2 in each of its end flanges l, the slots 2 in eachflange being positioned adjacent one another on opposite sides of thestud web. The material of the stud can be punched out completely or bentback as shown in FIG. 1. The stud serves as an interconnecting supportmember between a pair of panels 5, the panels in the preferredembodiment having a gypsum plaster core with a paper covering and may beprefinished with a vinyl or similar plastic. If the material of the studis bent back the removal of the panel away from the stud is facilitatedduring demounting in that clips 28 (FIG. 6) engage the bent materialwhich forces the panel in a direction away from the slots 2. In thepreferred embodiment a flat metallic or plastics strip 4 is bonded downboth longitudinal edge regions on the unexposed face of panel 5 by forexample a suitable adhesive. The strip 4 may be folded back on itself asshown at 7, so as to provide an over-lapped region to provide a moresecure fixing for self-tapping screws. The clips 3 have a lead inportion L to facilitate their engagement with the stud l, a clippingportion C and a tail T. The clip may have square 3b or barbed 3a tailends which serve as to locate the clips in respective punched slots 6.The clips 3 are locked into position on the strip 7 by insertion of thetail end of each clip into the respective rectangular punched slot 6formed in the strip 4 and then by insertion of a selftapping screw or ablind rivet or other fixing means through the punched guide holes 8 inclip 3 and strip 4. The clips are positioned to match the slots in thestuds.

It is also to be understood that where the panel material supplies aready fixing for rivets, screws or other fixing, as for example when atimber or particle board panel is used, then no edge strips arerequired.

A second embodiment of the clip 28 (FIG. 3) has a lead in portion L anda clipping portion C similar to the clip 3 (FIG. I).

The preferred clip 28 (FIG. 3) is generally hookshaped and has goodspring retention properties and is fixed to the panel without secondaryfixings. Each end of the clip 28 has pointed barbs 40, FIG. 5 whichpenetrate into the panel and notches 30 engage the curved slots 32 (FIG.4) punched in the bonded strip thus leading to a more effective gripwhen the weight of the panel is borne. The slots 32 can be of anysuitably tapered configuration.

In order to fix the clips 28 panels cut to a preferred length are placedface downwards with the bonded strips uppermost FIG. 4. In theuntensioned position one end of the clip protrudes slightly further thanthe other end FIG. 4a. The clip is fixed by inserting the protruding endthrough the top slot of the pair of slots in the bonded strip andsliding the end between the strip and the face of the panel (FIG. 4b).The other end is then extended to pass through the second of the pairedslots in the strip and slides between the strip and panel (FIG. 40).

The clip 28 is self locking on notches 30 cut just above each end whichfit over the strip. The clip 28 has an improved locking action sincewhen a panel is mounted in position the locking action is increased asthe clip supports the weight of the panel on the stud. In addition thetop of the clip is shaped to assist demounting by automatically forcingthe board away from the stud as it is lifted.

The system shown in FIG. 6 uses the second clip as shown in FIG. 3. Thesystem comprises panels such as plasterboard with a metallic or plasticsstrip 24 bonded down both edge regions on the unexposed face of theboard. In the preferred embodiment the strips are perforated atintervals down the length with paired slots 32 (see FIG. 4a) to receivethe clip 28 shown in FIG. 3. Clips 28 are spaced along the metal strips24 (FIG. 6) to correspond with the slots 2 cut in the flange of the I,section studs. The panels are fitted by passing the clips 28 through thestudding slots 2 and locking into position by lowering the board untilits weight is taken on the clip in the same way as for the first clips3, the clips 28 automatically gripping the studs. This system does notrequire special tools to fix the clips 28. To de mount the board it israised to clear the hook section of the clip from the bottom of the slotin the stud and then drawn outwards and removed.

If wide panels are used, then a centre stud may be used to give supportdown the panel centre and a further metal strip or short length of stripcan be applied to the centre of the panel to provide attachment.Alternatively adhesive or a double sided self adhesive tape can be usedto provide attachment to the centre stud. Three metallic or plasticstrips 24 are bonded to the unexposed surface of the board, one stripdown either edge region and one down the centre. Once the clips are inposition the panel is lowered onto three support studs. In this case thecentre stud will have one slot cut into the flange of for example a Csection stud. Alternatively one side of an I section stud could be used.

The floor and ceiling supports may comprise typical channel tracks 14(FIG. 2), conventionally used in the art, the top and bottom tracks I4as shown in FIG. 2 being interconnected by H section studs 16. Therectangular slots 2 in the studs 16 are preferably greater in horizontaldimension than the clips which engage them. This enables the assembly toaccommodate differences in width of panels on alternate faces of thepartition, which arise from panel manufacturing tolerances, withoutdeformation or strain in the component parts, consequent in previoussystems of this type. In erection the ceiling support is fixed and thestuds 16 raised into engagement with it by a shim or wedge 22 in such amanner that the slots in all the studs remain level. The panels withclips attached are raised using, for instance, a conventional footlifter, the clips are then engaged in the slots in the studs and thepanel allowed to fall so that the clips engage and clamp the panel tothe studs. Either the studs may be all erected first and the panelsapplied or studs and panels can be erected alternately. To complete thepartition suitable conventional components can be used such as trimsapplied at the ceiling, and conventional applied skirtings or basesincluding recessed skirtings, can be used. FIG. 2, by

way of example, shows a clip 10 with an extruded skirting 12 clipped on.

Apart from preventing vibration the gripping action of both type ofclips allows a vertical tolerance for positioning the stud in relationto the panel. Furthermore, when erecting, successive panels can bepushed towards the fixed end of the partition with the clips slidingalong the bottom edge of the slot in the stud to ensure a tight jointbetween the panels.

We claim:

1. A partition system comprising a plurality of panels, and wherein eachpanel is provided with a plurality of generally hook-shaped clips eachof which has one end secured to the panel and another end resilientlyengageable and disengageable with a supporting member defining a leadportion for facilitating engagement with the respective supportingmember and a clipping portion for releaseably securing the clip to thesupporting member, and a tail portion for attaching the clip to a panel,the supporting member defining slots for receiving said clips.

2. A partition system as claimed in claim 1 and wherein the clip isgenerally hook-shaped, the resiliently engageable end defining aclipping portion for releasably securing the clip to the respectivesupporting member and a lead in portion for facilitating engagement witha supporting member, and tail portions, each tail end of the clip beingshaped so as to constitute a barb, the edges of the clip adjacent toeach barbed end defining a respective notch for providing effectivegripping of the clip to the panel when the panel is supported on asupporting member.

3. A partition system as claimed in claim 2 and wherein the clips aremade from a metallic strip.

4. A partition system as claimed in claim 2 and wherein the clips aremade from a plastic strip.

5. A partition system as claimed in claim 2 and wherein a plurality ofstrips are bonded to a side of the panel, the strips defining slots forreceiving the pointed barbs and the notches of the clip, the notches inthe clips being formed in a region immediately adjacent the pointedbarbed ends of the clip.

6. A partition system as claimed in claim 5 and wherein at least aportion of the slot has a tapering configuration.

7. A partition system as claimed in claim 6 and wherein the strip isbonded down each longitudinal edge region of the panel and a furtherstrip is bonded to the centre of the panel for enabling a centresupporting member to be secured thereon.

8. A partition system as claimed in claim 1 and wherein the clips aremade from a metallic strip.

9. A partition system as claimed in claim 1 and wherein the clips aremade from a plastic strip.

10. A partition system as claimed in claim I and wherein the supportingmembers are tubular sections defining slots for receiving the clips.

11. A partition system as claimed in claim I and wherein the supportingmembers are made from steel.

12. A partition system as claimed in claim 1 and wherein the horizontaldimension of the slots in vertical supporting members is greater thanthe width of the clips.

13. A partition system as claimed in claim I and wherein the supportingmember is in the form of an I section having a supporting member web andend flanges and defining a pair of rectangular slots in each of its endflanges, the slots in each flange being positined adjacent one anotheron opposite sides of the supporting member web.

14. A partition system as claimed in claim 1 and wherein the panels havea gypsum plaster core with a paper covering.

15. A partition system as claimed in claim 1 and wherein the panels havea facing made from plastics material.

16. A partition system as claimed in claim and wherein the facing ismade from a vinyl plastics material.

17. A partition system as claimed in claim 1 and wherein a metallicstrip is secured down both longitudinal edge regions of a side of thepanel.

18. A partition system as claimed in claim 17 and wherein thelongitudinal end of the strip nearest the longitudinal edge region ofthe panel is folded back on itself to form an overlapped region of thestrip.

19. A partition system as claimed in claim 1 and wherein a plasticsstrip is bonded down both longitudinal edge regions of a side of thepanel, the strips defining respective rectangular punched slots intowhich the tail end of each clip may be inserted, the clip definingpunched guide holes for receiving a fixing means which may be insertedthrough a respective guide hole and the strip for securing the clipthereto.

20. A partition system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the panels are madefrom timber.

1. A partition system comprising a plurality of panels, and wherein eachpanel is proviDed with a plurality of generally hook-shaped clips eachof which has one end secured to the panel and another end resilientlyengageable and disengageable with a supporting member defining a leadportion for facilitating engagement with the respective supportingmember and a clipping portion for releaseably securing the clip to thesupporting member, and a tail portion for attaching the clip to a panel,the supporting member defining slots for receiving said clips.
 2. Apartition system as claimed in claim 1 and wherein the clip is generallyhook-shaped, the resiliently engageable end defining a clipping portionfor releasably securing the clip to the respective supporting member anda lead in portion for facilitating engagement with a supporting member,and tail portions, each tail end of the clip being shaped so as toconstitute a barb, the edges of the clip adjacent to each barbed enddefining a respective notch for providing effective gripping of the clipto the panel when the panel is supported on a supporting member.
 3. Apartition system as claimed in claim 2 and wherein the clips are madefrom a metallic strip.
 4. A partition system as claimed in claim 2 andwherein the clips are made from a plastic strip.
 5. A partition systemas claimed in claim 2 and wherein a plurality of strips are bonded to aside of the panel, the strips defining slots for receiving the pointedbarbs and the notches of the clip, the notches in the clips being formedin a region immediately adjacent the pointed barbed ends of the clip. 6.A partition system as claimed in claim 5 and wherein at least a portionof the slot has a tapering configuration.
 7. A partition system asclaimed in claim 6 and wherein the strip is bonded down eachlongitudinal edge region of the panel and a further strip is bonded tothe centre of the panel for enabling a centre supporting member to besecured thereon.
 8. A partition system as claimed in claim 1 and whereinthe clips are made from a metallic strip.
 9. A partition system asclaimed in claim 1 and wherein the clips are made from a plastic strip.10. A partition system as claimed in claim 1 and wherein the supportingmembers are tubular sections defining slots for receiving the clips. 11.A partition system as claimed in claim 1 and wherein the supportingmembers are made from steel.
 12. A partition system as claimed in claim1 and wherein the horizontal dimension of the slots in verticalsupporting members is greater than the width of the clips.
 13. Apartition system as claimed in claim 1 and wherein the supporting memberis in the form of an I section having a supporting member web and endflanges and defining a pair of rectangular slots in each of its endflanges, the slots in each flange being positined adjacent one anotheron opposite sides of the supporting member web.
 14. A partition systemas claimed in claim 1 and wherein the panels have a gypsum plaster corewith a paper covering.
 15. A partition system as claimed in claim 1 andwherein the panels have a facing made from plastics material.
 16. Apartition system as claimed in claim 15 and wherein the facing is madefrom a vinyl plastics material.
 17. A partition system as claimed inclaim 1 and wherein a metallic strip is secured down both longitudinaledge regions of a side of the panel.
 18. A partition system as claimedin claim 17 and wherein the longitudinal end of the strip nearest thelongitudinal edge region of the panel is folded back on itself to forman overlapped region of the strip.
 19. A partition system as claimed inclaim 1 and wherein a plastics strip is bonded down both longitudinaledge regions of a side of the panel, the strips defining respectiverectangular punched slots into which the tail end of each clip may beinserted, the clip defining punched guide holes for receiving a fixingmeans which may be inserted through a respective guide hole and thestrip for securing the clip thereto.
 20. A partition sysTem as claimedin claim 1 wherein the panels are made from timber.